# 2019 Auckland SuperSprint

The 2019 ITM Auckland SuperSprint was a motor racing event for Supercars, held on the weekend of 13 to 15 September 2019. The event was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway near Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of two races, 200 kilometres in length. It was the 11th event of fifteen in the 2019 Supercars Championship and hosted races 23 and 24 of the season. It was the fourteenth running of the Auckland SuperSprint.

## Report
### Practice

The first practice session started in wet conditions, eventually drying as the session went on. Richie Stanaway strayed wide at the final corner, swiping the wall and causing damage to his left-rear suspension which forced him out of the rest of the session. With the track continually improving toward the end of the session, Will Davison seized the advantage and came away as the fastest driver.
The remaining two sessions were claimed by stablemates, Lee Holdsworth and Chaz Mostert, to complete a Tickford Racing sweep of practice.
Practice summary :
| Session | Day | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap |
| Session | Day | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Time |
| P1 | Friday | 23 | Will Davison | 23Red Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.4451 |
| P2 | Friday | 5 | Lee Holdsworth | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.6281 |
| P3 | Saturday | 55 | Chaz Mostert | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8983 |

### Race 23
#### Qualifying

Hometown hero, Shane van Gisbergen, took pole position for the first race of the weekend, not long after spinning off at turn three in the final practice session. This marked his first pole position since Tasmania in April.
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.5480 |
| 2 | 6 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.6986 |
| 3 | 23 | Will Davison | 23Red Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.7513 |
| 4 | 55 | Chaz Mostert | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.7804 |
| 5 | 12 | Fabian Coulthard | DJR Team Penske | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8018 |
| 6 | 17 | Scott McLaughlin | DJR Team Penske | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8461 |
| 7 | 9 | David Reynolds | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.9151 |
| 8 | 5 | Lee Holdsworth | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.9338 |
| 9 | 99 | Anton de Pasquale | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.0445 |
| 10 | 8 | Nick Percat | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.0786 |
| 11 | 2 | Scott Pye | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1043 |
| 12 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1251 |
| 13 | 14 | Tim Slade | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1477 |
| 14 | 33 | Richie Stanaway | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1694 |
| 15 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1829 |
| 16 | 7 | Andre Heimgartner | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.2470 |
| 17 | 3 | Garry Jacobson | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.2680 |
| 18 | 34 | James Golding | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.2712 |
| 19 | 22 | James Courtney | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3129 |
| 20 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3532 |
| 21 | 21 | Macauley Jones | Tim Blanchard Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3648 |
| 22 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.4633 |
| 23 | 78 | Simona de Silvestro | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.6325 |
| 24 | 19 | Jack Le Brocq | Tekno Autosports | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.1087 |
| Source(s): ||||||

#### Race

| Pos. | No. | Name | Team | Laps | Time | Grid |
| 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 70 | 1hr 19min 07.6388sec | 1 |
| 2 | 6 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | 70 | + 12.649 | 2 |
| 3 | 9 | David Reynolds | Erebus Motorsport | 70 | + 15.428 | 7 |
| 4 | 17 | Scott McLaughlin | DJR Team Penske | 70 | + 16.089 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | Lee Holdsworth | Tickford Racing | 70 | + 16.892 | 8 |
| 6 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 70 | + 17.363 | 12 |
| 7 | 12 | Fabian Coulthard | DJR Team Penske | 70 | + 21.383 | 5 |
| 8 | 7 | Andre Heimgartner | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 21.996 | 16 |
| 9 | 23 | Will Davison | 23Red Racing | 70 | + 24.822 | 3 |
| 10 | 33 | Richie Stanaway | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 70 | + 25.927 | 14 |
| 11 | 14 | Tim Slade | Brad Jones Racing | 70 | + 26.661 | 13 |
| 12 | 8 | Nick Percat | Brad Jones Racing | 70 | + 31.849 | 10 |
| 13 | 2 | Scott Pye | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 70 | + 32.280 | 11 |
| 14 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | 70 | + 37.850 | 20 |
| 15 | 99 | Anton de Pasquale | Erebus Motorsport | 70 | + 38.320 | 9 |
| 16 | 78 | Simona de Silvestro | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 38.586 | 23 |
| 17 | 22 | James Courtney | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 70 | + 39.985 | 19 |
| 18 | 3 | Garry Jacobson | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 42.179 | 17 |
| 19 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 47.031 | 22 |
| 20 | 21 | Macauley Jones | Tim Blanchard Racing | 70 | + 57.902 | 21 |
| 21 | 19 | Jack Le Brocq | Tekno Autosports | 69 | + 1 lap | 24 |
| 22 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | 65 | + 5 laps | 15 |
| 23 | 34 | James Golding | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 60 | + 10 laps | 18 |
| 24 | 55 | Chaz Mostert | Tickford Racing | 56 | + 14 laps | 4 |
| Fastest lap: Jamie Whincup (Triple Eight Race Engineering), 1:02.5421 |||||||
| Source: |||||||

### Race 24
#### Qualifying

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.5620 |
| 2 | 23 | Will Davison | 23Red Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.5909 |
| 3 | 55 | Chaz Mostert | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.6314 |
| 4 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.6593 |
| 5 | 5 | Lee Holdsworth | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.7362 |
| 6 | 17 | Scott McLaughlin | DJR Team Penske | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.7414 |
| 7 | 8 | Nick Percat | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.7916 |
| 8 | 12 | Fabian Coulthard | DJR Team Penske | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8654 |
| 9 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.8762 |
| 10 | 6 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.9078 |
| 11 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.9210 |
| 12 | 14 | Tim Slade | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.9465 |
| 13 | 7 | Andre Heimgartner | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:01.9697 |
| 14 | 99 | Anton de Pasquale | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.0408 |
| 15 | 34 | James Golding | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.0437 |
| 16 | 33 | Richie Stanaway | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.0747 |
| 17 | 2 | Scott Pye | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1329 |
| 18 | 22 | James Courtney | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.2171 |
| 19 | 21 | Macauley Jones | Tim Blanchard Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3003 |
| 20 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.3484 |
| 21 | 78 | Simona de Silvestro | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.4197 |
| 22 | 9 | David Reynolds | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4999 |
| 23 | 3 | Garry Jacobson | Kelly Racing | Nissan Altima (L33) | 1:02.5196 |
| 24 | 19 | Jack Le Brocq | Tekno Autosports | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.6650 |
| Source(s): ||||||

#### Top Ten Shootout

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.6666 |
| 2 | 5 | Lee Holdsworth | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8651 |
| 3 | 6 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8781 |
| 4 | 12 | Fabian Coulthard | DJR Team Penske | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.8964 |
| 5 | 17 | Scott McLaughlin | DJR Team Penske | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.9165 |
| 6 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:01.9809 |
| 7 | 55 | Chaz Mostert | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.0236 |
| 8 | 23 | Will Davison | 23Red Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.1325 |
| 9 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3685 |
| DSQ | 8 | Nick Percat | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | Disqualified |
| Source(s): ||||||

#### Race

| Pos. | No. | Name | Team | Laps | Time | Grid |
| 1 | 17 | Scott McLaughlin | DJR Team Penske | 70 | 1hr 17min 38.7925sec | 5 |
| 2 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 70 | + 1.898 | 6 |
| 3 | 55 | Chaz Mostert | Tickford Racing | 70 | + 6.043 | 7 |
| 4 | 8 | Nick Percat | Brad Jones Racing | 70 | + 6.566 | 10 |
| 5 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | 70 | + 31.654 | 11 |
| 6 | 2 | Scott Pye | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 70 | + 43.751 | 17 |
| 7 | 78 | Simona de Silvestro | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 44.932 | 21 |
| 8 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | 70 | + 47.365 | 9 |
| 9 | 33 | Richie Stanaway | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 70 | + 50.136 | 16 |
| 10 | 34 | James Golding | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 70 | + 50.952 | 15 |
| 11 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 53.074 | 20 |
| 12 | 12 | Fabian Coulthard | DJR Team Penske | 70 | + 53.406 | 4 |
| 13 | 23 | Will Davison | 23Red Racing | 70 | + 53.864 | 8 |
| 14 | 6 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | 70 | + 54.160 | 3 |
| 15 | 5 | Lee Holdsworth | Tickford Racing | 70 | + 55.603 | 2 |
| 16 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 70 | + 55.969 | 1 |
| 17 | 22 | James Courtney | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 70 | + 58.178 | 18 |
| 18 | 14 | Tim Slade | Brad Jones Racing | 70 | + 58.733 | 12 |
| 19 | 7 | Andre Heimgartner | Kelly Racing | 70 | + 1:01.575 | 13 |
| 20 | 99 | Anton de Pasquale | Erebus Motorsport | 69 | + 1 lap | 14 |
| 21 | 3 | Garry Jacobson | Kelly Racing | 69 | + 1 lap | 23 |
| 22 | 21 | Macauley Jones | Tim Blanchard Racing | 68 | + 2 laps | 19 |
| 23 | 19 | Jack Le Brocq | Tekno Autosports | 68 | + 2 laps | 24 |
| 24 | 9 | David Reynolds | Erebus Motorsport | 54 | + 14 laps | 22 |
| Fastest lap: Jamie Whincup (Triple Eight Race Engineering), 1:02.3719 |||||||
| Source: |||||||

## Aftermath

Once again, questions were posed regarding the future of the Supercars event at Pukekohe. In January 2020, it was announced that the New Zealand leg of the championship would shift from Pukekohe to Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. The reasoning given for the shift was as a result of legislation which prevents the Pukekohe circuit hosting racing on Anzac Day. However, the COVID-19 pandemic ground global motorsport to a halt and the round scheduled for 2020 would not go ahead. The championship would not return to New Zealand until 2022 where the series would complete one more round at Pukekohe before the tracks closure and demolition in 2023.

### Championship standings

| | Pos. | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Scott McLaughlin | 3008 |
| 2 | 2 | Shane van Gisbergen | 2410 |
| 1 | 3 | Chaz Mostert | 2327 |
| 1 | 4 | Fabian Coulthard | 2317 |
| | 5 | Jamie Whincup | 2140 |
| Pos. | Constructor | Points |
| 1 | Dick Johnson Racing | 5265 |
| 2 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 4410 |
| 3 | Tickford Racing 1 | 3981 |
| 4 | Erebus Motorsport | 3719 |
| 5 | Tickford Racing 2 | 3706 |
* Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.